The quest for a perfect season ended in imperfect fashion Friday at home for the White Knoll softball team.

The Lady Timberwolves fell 2-1 to Cane Bay in the winner’s bracket Class 5A District 5 Lower State playoffs. It was the first loss this season for the defending state champions and snapped a 23-game winning streak which started last year following a Lower State playoff loss to Ashley Ridge.

The Lady Wildcats rebounded to end the post-season with 5 straight victories and a first-ever state championship. They now need to win 3 straight games to return to the Lower State playoffs for the 3rd straight year.

Friday’s contest saw both teams combine for 7 errors. White Knoll was responsible for 4 miscues, 2 of which resulted in both runs for the Lady Cobras.

With pitcher Joey Lawhorn on the mound, Cane Bay also held White Knoll to a season-low 1 hit. That came on a game-tying RBI single in the Bottom 1st by White Knoll pitcher Andrea Lyon.

She finished with 10 strikeouts and allowed just 2 hits and 2 walks.

It was a walk, however,  to Khia Wright with 1 out in the Top 7th that started the game-winning rally for Cane Bay. The next batter, Mallena Wright, hit a flyball that was misplayed in leftfield and put runners on 2nd and 3rd.

Smiley Kinloch followed with a sacrifice fly to leftfield fielded in foul territory. Wright beat the throw home  to break the tie. This was the 2nd RBI sacrifice fly of the game for Cane Bay, the first came in the Top 1st by Catelynn Riley.

Both Kinloch and Wright accounted for both hits for the Lady Cobras.

Lawhorn retired the first 2 White Knoll batters in the Bottom 7th and got pinch-hitter Mackenzie McElroy to pop out in the infield to end the game.

White Knoll (18-1) will look to keep its repeat title hopes alive Monday at home against Saturday’s Carolina Forest/Summerville winner. The winner of Monday’s game will then travel to Cane Bay for the District final and will need 2 victories to advance to the Lower State. 

Gilbert 3, Cheraw 2

Another game, another record for Lady Indians’ pitcher Savana Rosson.

Rosson struck out 11 to set the new single-season school record for strikeouts (219) and pick up the victory which sent Gilbert to Wednesday’s District 5 final.  

Offensively, Amaya Kearse and Ayden Leaphart were both 2-3, with Leaphart driving in a run.

Batesburg-Leesville 15, Blacksburg 5

Kiara Quattlebaum hit 2 home runs and the Lady Panthers advanced to the Class 2A District 4 final on Wednesday.

Airport 9, Dreher 0

A dominant pitching performance by Hannah Fisher helped the Lady Eagles stay alive in the Class 4A District 8 Lower State playoffs.

Fisher struck out 17 and went 2-4 with an RBI for Airport, which will travel to either North Myrtle Beach or Darlington on Monday for an elimination game.

Caliegh Corbitt went 2-3 with 2 RBI and Abby Fisher was 2-4 for 3 RBI.